Adjustable footplate for snowshoe



Nov. 6, 1956 J. H. lNKlNEN 2,769,250`

ADJUSTABLE FOOTPLATE FOR SNOWSHOE Filed April 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 'mg ,by

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY ATTORNEY NOV' 6, 1956 J. H. RINKINEN ADJUSTABLE FOOTPLATE FOR SNOWSHOE Filed April 23, 1956 new United States Patent O ADJUSTABLE FOTPLATE FOR SNOWSHOE John H. Rinkinen, Atlantic Mine, Mich.

Application April 23, 1956, Serial No. 580,007

9 Claims. (Cl. 36-4.5)

This invention relates to a novel footplate for use with and as a part of a Snowshoe in lieu of the sandal usually employed for securing a foot to a Snowshoe.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide an adjustable footplate which can be readily mounted in old or new Snowshoe frames and which will afford a greatly simplified means for retaining the Snowshoe attached to the foot of the user.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable shoeplate which will fit items of footwear such as boots and sho'es of different sizes and which will provide a quick and convenient connection between the wearers foot and the Snowshoe, enabling the foot to be quickly attached to the Snowshoe, or detached therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a footplate which may be utilized without an ankle strap so that the .user may step into the Snowshoe and step out of the Snowshoe at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a footplate which is so constructed that snow and ice will not adhere thereto and prevent proper manipulation of th'e footplate with the foot and relative to the Snowshoe.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure lis a plan view showing the footplat'e applied to a Snowshoe;

Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom'plan view of the footplate attachment;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal Sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views of the footplate attachment, taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional View, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure l.

The adjustable footplate attachment in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 8 and includes an elongated substantially U-shaped frame,

designated generally ,9, The frame 9, which is rigid,4 isV preferably formed of angle iron and includes a substantially horizontal top ange 10 and a depending ange 11 which extends downwardly from th'e inner edge of said top flange. The rounded intermediate or bight portion of the frame 9 constitutes the rear end thereof. As best seen in Figure 2, the depending flange 11 terminates short of the ends of the top ange 10 at the open forward end of the frame 9. The complementary longitudinal side portions 12 and 13 of the frarne 9 have their forward end portions 14 and 15, respectively, spaced apart a greater distance than the remainder of said side portions. l

Al shaft 16 extends transversely across ,the frame 9 rearwardly `of and adjacent the outwardly offset forward ice frame portions 14 and 15. The shaft 16, as Seen in Figure 4, extends loosely through yopenings 17 in the side portions of the d'epending flange 11 and has spaced portions thereof journalled in bearings 18 which are secured to the underside of the top ilange 10. Cotter pins 19 extend through end portions of the shaft 16 and beyond the remote ends of the bearings 18, for retaining the shaft in engagement with said bearings, and washers 20 are loosely disposed on the shaft 16 b'etween said cotter pins 19 and the bearings 18. A rod 21 extends across the frame 9 near the rounded rear end 22 thereof and has its end portions anchored in parts of the depending flange 11. A series of spaced grommets or eyelets 23 are form'ed in and extend through the top flange 10.

A conventional Snowshoe frame 24 is shown in Figure l provided with a front cross brace 2S and a rear cross brace 26. The forward end portions of the top flange 10, which are disposed beyond the ends of the depending flange 11, extend across the front brace 25, as Seen in Figures l and 2, and are secured thereto by fastenings 27, for mounting the frame 9 in the Snowshoe frame 24, between the braces 25 and 26. As seen in Figure 3, the frame 9 is thus supported in a plane substantially parallel to the Snowshoe frame 24. A netting or woven web 28, which is disposed between the cross braces 25 and 26, is connected to the frame 9 through the eyelets or grommets 23, a part of the netting or web 28 being anchored to the sides of the frame 24 and a portion thereof being anchored to the cross brace 26.

A footplate 29 is disposed in the frame 9 and lengthwise thereof. Fastenings 30'extend downwardly through the footplate 29 near to but spaced from its forward end and are anchored tothe shaft 16 for pivotal movement of the footplate 29 in the frame 9. Spacing elements 31 are interposed on the fastenings 30 between the shaft 16 and plate 29, for spacing said plate from the shaft. The rear portion of the plate 29 overlies the rod 21 which forms a stop to prevent said rear portion from swinging downwardly through the frame, as best seen in Figure 3.

A toeplate 32 is disposed on the upper side of the forward portion of the footplate 29 and has inwardly turned back side edge portions 33 which engage the side edges and underside of the plate 29 for slidably connecting the toeplate 32 to Said plate 29 for longitudinal sliding movement. The toeplate 32 is provided with depending side lugs 34, which are disposed forwardly of the portions 33 and which extend downwardly beyond side edge portions of the footplate 29. The toeplat'e 32 is also provided with a front lug 3S which extends downwardly from the forward end thereof, beyond the forward. end of the footplate 29. A toecap, designated generally 36, includes a transversely disposed arch shaped member 37 the ends of which straddle the lugs 34 and are provided with spac'ed openings 38 to selectively receive fastenings 39 which extend therethrough and through the adjacent lugs 34 for adjustably connecting the arch member 37 to the toeplate 32. The toecap 36 also includes afront bar 39 which extends forwardly from the top portion of the member 37 and is curved downwardly so as to extend across the front side of the lug 35. Said member 39 is likewise provided with spaced openings 40 for selectively receiving a fastening 41 which also extends through the front lug 35. Thus, the toecap 36 can be adjusted relative to the toeplate 32 to t Shoe, boot or similar footl wear toes of different sizes.

An elongated spring housing 42 is secured to the un derside of the forward portion of the plate 29 and longitudinally thereof. A plunger bar 43 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in the housing 42 and extend-s slidably through a notch or opening 44 in the forward end thereof, as best seen in Figure 3. Said bar 43 has a downturned forward end which is disposed,

against the rear side of the front lug 35 and secured thereto by the fastening 41. Said front plunger end 45 is disposed between the lug 35 and the forward end of the housing 42. The plunger bar 43 has a downturned rear end 46 which is disposed in spaced relation to the ends of the housing 42 and preferably nearer the rear end than the forward end thereof. Said portion i6 is disposed between adjacent ends of a front compression spring 47 and a rear compression spring e8 which are contained in the front and rear end portions, respectively, of the housing 42. The front spring E7 substantially stronger than the rear spring 45d and normally retains the plunger bar 43, the footplate 29 and toecap 36 in fully retracted rearmost positions, as seen, in Figure 3.

As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the rear portion of the footplate 29 is provided with a series of longitudinally and transversely spaced apertures 4Q. A heelplate Sii is mounted on the upper side of the rear end portion of the footplate 29 and is adjustably secured thereto by fastenings 5 1; which extend downwardly through said footplate and through selected ones of the openings 49. It will be readily apparent that by utilizing different ones of the openings 49, that the heelplate Si) can be adjusted longitudinally, laterally and angularly relative to the footplate 29. The rounded rear end of the heelplate 50 has three spaced upstanding lugs forming heel guards 52. A heel catch 53 is detachably secured by a fastening 54 to the inner side of the intermediate heel guard 52, as seen in Figure 3, and has a forwardly extending upper end portion 55 forming a toothed claw which engages the footwear heel to hold the shoe or boot heel against the heelplate 50.

From the foregoing it will be .readily apparent that the user may insert the toe of a shoe or boot into the toecap 36 and by pushing forwardly will cause said toe` cap and the toeplate 32 to slide forwardly relative to the footplate 29. This will cause the plunger 43 to slide forwardly to compress'the strong front spring 4,7 so that the shoe or boot heel may then be placed against the heelplate Sti. The spring 47 will thereafter force the toecap and toeplate rearwardly to move the boot or shoe rearwardly so that the claw 55 will engage the shoe or boot heel, not shown, to thus effectively clamp the i -shoe 0r boot to the footplate 29 ready for use. The user may then walk in a manner normal to the use of Snowshoes with the footplate pivoting about the shaft 16. To disengage the shoe or boot from the footplate, it is only necessary to force the shoe forwardly against the forwardly yielding toecap and toeplate to disengage the heel from the claw 55 so that the boot or shoe can be removed. Thereafter the spring 47 will return the parts to their fully retracted positions of Figure 3 and the spring 48 will function as a cushioning spring during the nal stages of this rearward movement. The heelplate 50 can be angularly adjusted as well as laterally adjusted to t the heels of boots or shoes of different shapes, and longitudinally adjusted to fit boots and shoes of different lengths and to vary the tension on the front spring. 47 when the boot or shoe is attached to the footplate 29.

The lower ends of the toecap forming members 37 and 39 extend downwardly from the lugs 34 and 35, as seen in Figure 3, to form ice engaging lugs to prevent slippage of the Snowshoe when utilized on icy surfaces.

A turn-button-type latch S6 is pivotally connected intermediate of its ends by a fastening 57 to the upper side of a portion of the top flange 10 and is swingably movable so that one end thereof will overlie a portion of the heelplate 50, as seen in Figure l, to retain the rear portion of the plate 29 against the rod 21 to thus maintain the plate 29 immovably relative to the frame 9, when the footplate attachment 8 is not in use.

As seen in Figure 2, a latch member S8 is swingably mounted intermediate of its ends on the underside of the forward portion of the plate 29 to one side of the spring housing 42 by a fastening 59. One of the toeplate portions 33 is provided with notches 60 which can be selectively engaged by the end 61 of the latch 5S to latch the toeplate 32 against sliding movement toward an extended position. The latch 5S may be utilized where it is desired to positively locii a shoe or boot on the shoeplate or in the event that the spring 47 should break.

ri`he side edge portions of the heelplate 50 are provided with opstanding aperturcd lugs 62 to which can be connected an ankle strap 63 by conventional latches 641 which engage through the apertures of the lugs 62, as seen in Figure 5. However, it is to be understood that the use of the ankle strap 63 is not essential. The parts forming the attachment 3 may be constructed of aluminum or other lightweight metal.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. A footplate attachment for a Snowshoe comprising, in combination with a Snowshoe frame having a front cross brace, an elongated footplate attachment frame having a forward end secured to said cross brace and supported thereby in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the Snowshoe frame and extending rearwardly from said cross brace, said frame combining with the cross brace to define an elongated opening, an elongated footplate disposed in said frame opening and longitudinally thereof, a shaft extending transversely across and journalled in the said frame, said footplate being secured on said shaft for pivotal movement relative to the attachment frame about the axis of the shaft, a toeplate overlying a forward portion of said footplate, means slidably connecting the toeplate to the footplate, a toecap supported by and disposed above the forward portion of the toeplate, spring means carried by the footplate and connected to the toeplate for urging the toeplate to slide rearwardly relative to the footplate, a heel catch dis' posed above the other rear end of the footplate facing toward the toeplate, and means detachably mounting said heel catch on the footplate.

2. A footplate attachment as in claim 1, a heelplate detachably mounted on the last mentioned rear end of the footplate, means adjustably connecting the heelplate.

to the footplate for adjusting said heelplate longitudinally, laterally and angularly relative to the footplate, toeplate and toecap.

3. A footplate attachment as in claim 2, said heel icatch lbeing detachably supported by said heelplate.

4. A footplate attachment as in claim 1, a rod extending across a rear portion of the footplate frame and on which the rear portion of the footplate is adapted to bear, and a latch swingably mounted on a part of said frame and movable to a position to overlie a part of the footplate, adjacent said rod, for cooperating with said rod to maintain the footplate immovable relative to the attachment frame.

5. A footplate attachment as in claim 1, said attachment frame being of elongated U-shaped construction and being formed of angle iron, said frame including a top flange and a depending liange extending downwardly from an inner edge of said top ange, said top ange having end portions extending beyond the ends of the depending ange and which overlie and are secured to said cross brace.

6. A footplate attachment as in claim l, means for adjustably positioning said toecap on the toeplate for accommodating toe portions of boots and shoes of different sizes and shapes.

7. A footplate attachment as in claim 1, said toecap having portions depending from the footplate and forming cleats adapted to prevent slippage of the snowshoe on an icy surface.

8. A footplate attachment as in claim 1, and latch means carried by the iootplate for selectively engaging a portion of the toeplate to retain the toeplate against sliding movement forwardly toward an extended position for locking a boot or shoe in a position attached to the footplate by the toecap and heel catch.

9. A footplate attachment as in claim 1, said spring means including an elongated housing secured to the underside of the footplate and longitudinally thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in and extending from said housing and having a part connected to a portion of the toeplate, and a spring contained in said housing and connected to the plunger for urging the plunger rearwardly relative to the footplate.

No references cited. 

